Chapter 35
After Suleiman left on a business trip, I found myself living in my cat form again for the first time in ages.
Curled up on my personal cushion as a small kitten, I rested my chin on my paws, lost in deep thought.
‘Why does it feel so empty…?’
These days, falling asleep beside him at night and turning back into a human after receiving his morning kiss had become such an ordinary routine.
Now, sleeping alone and seeing the empty space beside me in bed every morning left me feeling strangely hollow.
“Meowwww…” (Ugh, this is annoying…)
I had already admitted to myself—at least somewhat—that I felt a kind of affection for him.
But to feel this gaping void in my chest just because he’s gone for a few days—
‘That’s… kind of dangerous, isn’t it?’
Flustered, I rubbed my cheeks furiously with my soft paws before burying my face between them.
“Meowwww.” (Sighhh.)
Dejected, I drooped my ears and tail, letting out a long sigh.
But the maids, completely oblivious to my complicated feelings, squealed with delight.
“Lady Cat, you’re so adorable!”
“Did you see her rubbing her cheeks just now? I thought my heart was going to explode!”
The three maids left in charge of me while Arin was away twisted their bodies dramatically, groaning as if my cuteness were too much to bear.
They all looked like they might die from it.
“Should we… maybe pet her just a little? While Arin’s gone?”
“Oh, come on. You know what she’s like. She’d have a fit if we even touched her.”
“Just a tiny bit! If Lady Cat doesn’t like it, we can stop right away!”
The maids began a small commotion over me.
From the sound of it, the argument wasn’t going to end anytime soon.
Thanks to them, my sensitive feline ears were itching like crazy.
‘Stop fighting already, you girls.’
Your bickering is hurting my poor ears.
While scratching them with my hind paw, a mischievous idea suddenly popped into my head.
‘Hmm… which one should I pick?’
Slipping off my luxurious cushion, I picked one of the maids crouched in front of me as my target.
“Uh… Lady Cat…?”
With my eyes gleaming, I jumped straight into her lap.
The startled maid gasped as I landed softly on her knees.
“Oh my gosh! Lady Cat climbed onto my lap!!”
“A lap cat…? Oh no, that’s too cute—I can’t handle it!”
One of them clutched her forehead, pretending to faint, and I snorted in amusement.
This was only the beginning of my overwhelming cuteness!
Rubbing, rubbing.
I pressed my forehead against the maid’s body, brushing my fur affectionately against her.
“Meow.” (Touch me, human.)
Moved by my passionate gestures, the maid nearly burst into tears.
“J-just for a moment, then… Lady Cat.”
Her trembling hand reached out and gently stroked my nose and forehead. I closed my eyes in contentment.
‘Ahh, that feels nice.’
No need for self-massage when someone else did such a fine job of petting me. It was both comfortable and refreshing.
“Meow.” (You can go harder.)
Settling myself fully in her lap, I sprawled out lazily.
The maids squealed again, nearly losing their minds from how cute I was.
‘Heh. I am adorable, aren’t I?’
They say cuteness can save the world.
And honestly, I thought my charm as a kitten might just destroy it.
‘Things really have changed a lot since before.’
There had once been people who treated me carelessly, thinking I was just a mute cat.
But now, I was the royal family’s official feline.
No one, not even these maids, would dare treat me lightly.
As I purred contentedly under the maids’ gentle strokes, the door suddenly opened.
“What are you all doing…?”
Arin stood at the entrance, eyes wide in disbelief.
“Ah, Arin! Don’t misunderstand—we didn’t start this! Lady Cat wanted us to pet her first!”
“Yeah, it’s true. Right, Lady Cat?”
“Meow.” (Right.)
I nodded in agreement, and the maid holding me let out a sigh of relief.
After setting me back down on the sofa, she awkwardly began to retreat.
“Well, I… I should get back to work.”
“Y-yeah! We all should. See you later, Arin!”
Flustered by Arin’s sudden return, the maids hurriedly fled the room.
Thud. The door shut, and an awkward silence filled the air.
“Meow…?” (Arin…?)
Arin blinked blankly before quickly regaining her composure.
“Oh—sorry. I was spacing out for a moment.”
She smiled, but there was a faint trace of sadness in her expression.
‘What’s with her all of a sudden?’
Tilting my head, I tried to think if I’d done something wrong.
Then I remembered—she had walked in to find me surrounded by other maids.
‘Oh. Wait. Could that be… jealousy?’
I’d felt that same twinge before—when a pet you adore shows affection to someone else.
Realizing this, I nodded slightly.
Poor Arin looked so downhearted, her shoulders slumped.
She’d always been the one closest to me, whether I was a cat or a human. It was understandable she’d feel hurt.
I stood up from my cushion and confidently padded toward her.
“I-Ishtar—no, Lady Cat…?”
If you hurt someone with a cat-like gesture, you fix it with a cat-like gesture.
I began weaving through her legs, rubbing my face and body against them.
My enthusiastic movements—almost like a dance—made her cheeks flush pink.
“Meowww.” (Cheer up, Arin.)
I gazed up at her, pouring sincerity into my meows.
Even if words couldn’t reach her, hearts could.
Tears welled up in her clear eyes.
“I’m sorry… I shouldn’t feel this way. I guess I’m just too petty.”
As the tears trickled down her cheeks, I started sweating through my paw pads in panic.
‘No, no, I get it! Just please don’t cry!’
Desperate, I rubbed harder against her until she gently lifted me into her arms.
“You’re comforting me… aren’t you? You’re so kind. Thank you.”
She wiped her tears away and smiled warmly.
Embarrassed, I sniffled softly, my nose damp.
‘Whenever someone cries, it makes me sad too…’
Especially when that someone was Arin—the one who had cared for me so devotedly since the beginning.
My conscience screamed in guilt.
I had to admit: a pure girl’s tears were far more powerful than any cute kitten’s charm.
“I think I just got a bit greedy. Wanting to have Lady Cat all to myself… I’m sorry.”
“Meow.” (It’s okay.)
“No… You’re a person, after all. I guess I forgot that and treated you like a pet again.”
Well, technically, I am currently fulfilling my cat instincts to perfection.
At a loss for words, I only shrugged.
“B-but… could you promise me one thing?”
“Meow?” (What is it?)
When I looked up, her face was completely red.
“…Whether you’re in cat form or as Lady Ishtar—could you make me your best friend?”
Her voice trembled as she spoke, embarrassed yet sincere.
And I nearly got a nosebleed for an entirely different reason.
‘Damn it, she’s too adorable.’
How could anyone not fall for such a sweet, earnest girl who confessed her feelings like that?
Clearing my throat, I placed a paw over my chest.
“Huh…?”
As she looked at me curiously, I tapped my chest twice, then reached out my paw toward her and nodded.
‘I—you—best friend.’
Even if she couldn’t fully understand, my intent clearly reached her.
“Lady Ishtar…! Thank you so much!”
She hugged me tightly and planted a loving kiss on my furry face.
It was a bit strange, being kissed by a girl so much younger than me—but for some reason, it felt incredibly heartwarming.
And so, as peace returned to the day, I thought to myself—
sometimes, being a cat isn’t so bad after all.
